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Related Concept Videos

Opioid Analgesics: Synthetic and Semisynthetic Opioids01:15

Opioid Analgesics: Synthetic and Semisynthetic Opioids

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Synthetic and semisynthetic opioids are pivotal in pain management and tackling opioid addiction. Semisynthetic opioids, including morphinans (morphine derivatives), oxycodone, oxymorphone, hydrocodone, and hydromorphone, have improved pharmacokinetic profiles compared to morphine. Additionally, heroin and 6-MAM (6-Monoacetylmorphine) show better CNS penetration than morphine due to heightened lipid solubility. Hydromorphone, a potent opioid, undergoes hepatic metabolism to form the active...
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Opioid Analgesics: Morphine and Other Natural Cogeners01:20

Opioid Analgesics: Morphine and Other Natural Cogeners

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Opioids are a class of drugs that mimic endogenous opioid peptides and act on opioid receptors, and help in pain relief. These compounds are classified as natural, synthetic, or semi-synthetic. Natural opioids, like morphine, codeine, and thebaine, are derived from the opium poppy plant (Papaver somniferum or Papaver album) and are termed opiates. Synthetic opioids are artificial, while semi-synthetic opioids combine natural and synthetic compounds. Morphine, a prototypical opioid, possesses a...
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Drug Abuse and Addiction: Pharmacological Phenomena01:15

Drug Abuse and Addiction: Pharmacological Phenomena

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Drug dependence, abuse, and addiction are complex phenomena that can precipitate various abnormal states. Physical dependence refers to a state of pharmacological adaptation to a drug. This adaptation often results in tolerance—a reduced response to the drug after repeated administrations. When the drug use is abruptly stopped, withdrawal symptoms occur due to the body's need to readjust from the pharmacologically induced imbalance. However, tolerance and withdrawal symptoms do not...
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Opioid Receptors: Overview01:22

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Opioid receptors, including the mu (μ, MOR), delta (δ, DOR), and kappa (κ, KOR) types, belong to the rhodopsin family of G protein-coupled receptors. These receptors are located throughout the central and peripheral nervous systems and in non-neuronal tissues such as macrophages and astrocytes. Opioid receptor ligands can be categorized into agonists or antagonists. Highly selective agonists include [d-Ala2, MePhe4, Gly(ol)5]-enkephalin or DAMGO for MOR, [D-Pen2,...
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Drug Control Governance: Regulatory Bodies and Their Impact01:03

Drug Control Governance: Regulatory Bodies and Their Impact

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Drug control governance involves the oversight and regulation of pharmaceuticals to ensure their safety and efficacy while preventing illegal drug use and trafficking. Regulatory bodies, including the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and the European Union's European Medicines Agency (EMA), play a central role in this process. These agencies evaluate the safety and efficacy of drugs before they can be marketed. They fund clinical trials and assess the benefits and risks associated with...
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Prescription, Nonprescription and Orphan Drugs01:02

Prescription, Nonprescription and Orphan Drugs

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Prescription drugs require a prescription from a medical practitioner and can only be obtained from a pharmacy. They have many applications, including treating pain, anxiety, and hypertension.
The misuse and addiction to prescription drugs is a growing problem that can affect people of all age groups, specifically teenagers. This can happen when prescription medications are used in ways not intended by the prescriber, such as taking someone else's prescription or using medication for...
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Author Spotlight: An Efficient Methodology to Confidently Differentiate and Characterize Fentanyl Analogs
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Changing Landscape of Fentanyl/Heroin Use and Distribution.

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Fentanyl has largely replaced heroin as the primary street drug for opioid users. This shift is evident in clinical data showing increased fentanyl positivity and decreased heroin positivity from 2016 to 2022.

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Area of Science:

  • Public Health
  • Epidemiology
  • Substance Use Disorders

Background:

  • The opioid crisis landscape is evolving, with significant shifts in drug supply and user preferences.
  • Understanding the transition between different opioids is crucial for public health interventions.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the geopolitical factors influencing fentanyl and heroin supply chains.
  • To analyze the changing patterns of drug use in opioid-dependent individuals.

Main Methods:

  • Retrospective analysis of drug test results from a clinical practice.
  • Comparison of fentanyl and heroin positive test rates between 2016 and 2022.

Main Results:

  • Fentanyl-positive drug tests significantly increased between 2016 and 2022.
  • Heroin-positive drug tests decreased by 80% during the same period.
  • This indicates a substantial substitution of heroin by fentanyl in the illicit drug market.

Conclusions:

  • Fentanyl has emerged as the dominant street drug among opioid-dependent users.
  • The findings highlight a critical transition in the opioid epidemic, necessitating updated harm reduction and treatment strategies.